On the upside, they have nice Asianish food too. On the downside you are only going to get something made from teabag.

Also in Dupont Circle, is a small locally owned chain called "Capital Teas". They don't serve tea, it is expensive and they don't label their prices. However, they have knowledgeable help and a huge variety of tea.

ceterisparibus wrote:No, not a tea house proper. Loose leaf into a bag and served in a paper cup to go.

If you're talking about Teaism, I've only been to the one in DuPont Circle once, but I can say that that is not what they do at the Alexandria location. They do use a bag method of infusion, but the tea is removed after steeping, and served in a teapot. They also seem to understand proper water temperatures, which is not always the case with some establishments, particularly with greens and whites.

ceterisparibus wrote:No, not a tea house proper. Loose leaf into a bag and served in a paper cup to go.

If you're talking about Teaism, I've only been to the one in DuPont Circle once, but I can say that that is not what they do at the Alexandria location. They do use a bag method of infusion, but the tea is removed after steeping, and served in a teapot. They also seem to understand proper water temperatures, which is not always the case with some establishments, particularly with greens and whites.

There is one high-end tea house in DC worth noting. It's the Tea Cellar in the Park Hyatt. Look up the menu on the web to see what I mean.

A step down is Ching Ching Cha in Georgetown. It has a pleasant atmosphere and some reasonably solid teas, mostly from Taiwan. You shouldn't avoid Georgetown simply because it's a 20 minute walk from a metro station. It the oldest neighborhood in DC, and a charming place to visit. It would be a shame to miss.

There are also several Teaisms and Capital Teas in the area. Teaism has some nice teas and solid bento boxes. There's one a block from the White House, so it's worth a look. Capital Tea sells several kinds of teas, with a lean on flavored varieties.

A step down is Ching Ching Cha in Georgetown. It has a pleasant atmosphere and some reasonably solid teas, mostly from Taiwan. You shouldn't avoid Georgetown simply because it's a 20 minute walk from a metro station. It the oldest neighborhood in DC, and a charming place to visit. It would be a shame to miss.

Once Spring cranks up the temperature another 10 degrees I will make the walk